Closure for container-lining membrane port



3,421,665 CLOSURE FOR CONTAINER-LINING MEMBRANE PORT Filed Oct. 30.-1967 Jan. 14, 1969 H. N. K. PATON Sheet I of 5 1N VENT OR. HAM/t ro/vlyiu mva PATDN xlrromvm Jan. 14, 1969 H. N; K; PATON CLOSURE FORCONTAINER-LINING M Filed Oct. 30. 1967 EMBRANE PORT Sheet 2 INVENTOR.HAN/L700 lYEfl. K1116 PATON ATTORNEY Jan. 14, 1969 H. N. K. PATONCLOSURE FOR CONTAINER-LINING MEMBRANE PORT Sheet Filed Oct. 30. 1967'1",I"Illlrlllllplllllltllllll IN VEN'TOR.

14 TTOR/YE Y lllllllllllllll '0 lllilrlalltllllll Jan. 14, 1969 H. N. K.PATON 3,421,665

I CLOSURE FOR CONTAINER-LIN'ING MEMBRANE PORT Filed Oct. 30. 1967 Sheet4 01'5 ATTORNEY.

1969 H. N. K. PAT Oh I 3,

CLOSURE FOR CONTAINER-LINI NG MEMBRANE PORT Filed on. 30. 1967 Sheet 5of 5 ,4 TTORNEY United States Patent m 3,421,665 CLOSURE FORCONTAINER-LINING MEMBRANE PORT Hamilton Neil King Paton, Bellevue,Wash., assignor to Dynabulk Corporation, Bellevue, Wash, a corporationof Washington Continuation-impart of applications Ser. No. 307,447,

Sept. 9, 1963, and Ser. No. 408,467, Oct. 30, 1964. This applicationOct. 30, 1967, Ser. No. 679,146 U.S. Cl. 222--386.5 18 Claims Int. Cl.B67d /42; B67d 5/64 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A port through a membranewhich lines the interior of a container is closed by a rigid cap whichmay be circular, or such port may have an elongated flexible neck thatcan be gathered and tied, or such neck can have a slit in its endclosable by a separable fastener. Such neck is long enough to extendupward through the coaming of a filler port and be folded over it. Theend of the neck can be square so that opposite sides can be pressed intoadjacent relationship to be closed by a linear separable fastener or theend of neck can be hemispherical with the separable fastener extendingalong a great semicircle when closed. Locking mechanism for theseparable fastener can be attached to an anchor chain so that the neckcan be disconnected from the anchor chain only when the separablefastener is closed. Such latching mechanism includes a plug attached tothe separable fastener slider and a plug attached to the anchor chainend insertable, respectively, in crossing bores of a latch block so thatone plug is released for withdrawal from its bore only when the otherplug is inserted in its bore.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my previous patentapplication Ser. No. 307,447, filed Sept. 9,

the material in the container. Such membrane can be pressed againstdiscrete particle material in the container beneath it for the purposeof packing the particles of the material together to increase thedensity of the material and/or can be manipulated to assist indischarging the material from the container by pressure of the membraneon such material. Preferably, pressure of the membrane on the materialis effected by providing a differential fluid pressure on opposite sidesof the membrane, the pressure being higher in the space between themembrane and the outer wall of the container. The container may becylindrical or spherical and in the case of a cylinddrical container theaxis of the container can be either horizontal or vertical, as may bebest suited to the particular installation. Also, the container can beof rectangular cross section. In any case, it will usually be desirableto design the membrane to fit the particular shape of the container.

It is an object of the invention to provide one or more apertures in themembrane disposable in registry with corresponding apertures in thecontainer through which discrete particle material can be supplied to-or discharged from the container and which apertures afford accessthrough the membrane for other purposes. More specifically, it is anobject to enable such apertures in the membrane to be sealed easily influidtight condition.

3,421,665 Patented Jan. 14, 1969 Another object is to provide closuremeans for an aperture through the membrane which can be manipulatedeasily and quickly to open or close the aperture and which aperture andits closure means can be constructed to withstand any differentialpressure to which the membrane may be subjected without being ruptured.

It is a further object to provide attaching means adjacent to closuremeans which can be disconnected only when the closure means are closedso that the aperture through the membrane will not prevent anappreciable differential pressure being produced on its opposite sides.

The foregoing objects can be accomplished in membrane installations incontainers of various types and shapes having either rigid or flexiblewalls. The attachment of the liner to a flexible or rigid container canbe such as to enable the membrane to follow material in the container asit moves toward an outlet and the differential fluid pressure acting onthe membrane will press material toward the outlet whether the pressureat the outlet side of the membrane is reduced or the fluid pressure atthe side of the membrane opposite the outlet is increased.

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective of a railway tank car container in whichan upper membrane is installed, parts being broken away, and FIGURES 2,3 and 4 are transverse sections through the tank of FIGURE 1, showingthe liner in different operative positions.

FIGURE 5 is a detail top perspective of a portion of the tank of FIGURE1 and a corresponding portion of the liner showing a modifiedconstruction, parts being broken away.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical transverse section through a different type ofrailway car body in which a membrane according to the present inventionis installed, and FIG- URE 7 is a similar view showing a slightlymodified type of membrane.

FIGURES 8, 9 and 10 are top perspectives of a different type ofcontainer in which a membrane according to the present invention isinstalled, parts being broken away.

FIGURE 11 is a longitudinal section through a railway tank car includinga container generally similar to that shown in FIGURE 1, but having adifferent type of membrane arrangement.

FIGURE 12 is a longitudinal section though a boxcar type of containerand FIGURE 13 is a transverse section taken on line 13-13 of FIGURE 12.

FIGURE 14 is a top perspective of a loading port installation, withparts broken away, and FIGURE 15 is a similar view showing parts in adifferent position.

FIGURE 16 is a side elevation of a loading port detail illustrating adifferent arrangement of parts.

FIGURE 17 is a top perspective of a loading port -in stallation similarto that shown in FIGURE 14 except that the portion of the linerillustrated is of a different configuration.

FIGURE 18 is a top perspective of liner membrane closure-locking means;FIGURE 19 is a section through such means showing the parts in oneoperative position; FIGURE 20 is a section through such means on line2020 of FIGURE 19; FIGURE 21 is a transverse sec tion through such meanstaken perpendicular to FIG- URE 20 on line 2121 of FIGURE 19; and FIGURE22 is a section through one element of such means on line 2222 of FIGURE21; FIGURE 23 is a section through such means similar to FIGURE 19, butshowing parts in different positions.

While the various membrane installations in containers illustrated inthe drawings are of different types, such installations have essentiallyone or more of three principal functions. The first function is that ofconstituting a vapor barrier and insulation element in a container. The

second function is as an element for compacting or densifying materialcomposed of fine discrete particles to increase the weight of materialwhich can be accommodated in a given rigid or flexible container. Thethird function of the membrane installation is to facilitate unloadingof discrete particle material or sludges or slurries from a rigid orflexible container by exerting controlled pressure on the material formoving it while, at the same time, if desired, protecting the containerin which the membrane is installed from being subjected to an internalpressure below atmospheric pressure. These principles can be utilizedwhether the container is a stationary storage container of flexible orrigid character or a flexible or rigid transportation container, such asa tank truck, or tank trailer, or a buoyant marine tank, or a raliwaytank car.

The membrane installations of the present invention are especiallyconcerned with containers for storing or transporting discrete particlematerial, which term is intended to embrace any material havingreasonable flow characteristics including fine powdered material, suchas flour or cement; granular material such as sugar, salt or sand;coarse particle material such as whole grain or corn kernels; chunkymaterial such as pellets, pulp chips and briquets, and small objectssuch as corn cobs, fruit and vegetables, such as oranges and potatoes,which, while being of irregular shape, are nevertheless su'flicientlyrounded so that they will roll one on another. All of such products areincluded within the term discrete particle material because all of themhave the characteristics of not being liquid, of their particles notadhering into a mass and of forming a reasonably steep angle of reposewhen piled. It should be understood that the specific items mentionedare only intended as examples to illustrate material having thecharacteristics pertinent to utilization of the present invention.

A principal application for the present invention is in rail cars, whichmay take the form of either a tank car 1, shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and4, or hopper car 2, shown in FIGURES 6 and 7. In each of theseapplications of the invention a membrane 3a in FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 4 and3b in FIGURES 6 and 7 extends within the upper portion of the carcontainer, preferably approximately the upper half of the car container,as a liner. The lower edge portion of this membrane is secured to thewall of the rigid container around the container periphery substantiallyin a horizontal plane. The membrane preferably is shaped generallycomplementally to the interior of the container so that it can fit theinner sides of the container walls reasonably contiguously. Thus, inFIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 4 the membrane 3a is of generally semi-cylindricalshape and the membrane 3b of FIGURES 6 and 7 is of generally rectangularpan shape. In both instances the membrane is reversible, without beingdetachable, so that it can move between a position lining the upperportion of the container and a position substantially inverted andsagging below the edge portion of the membrane secured to the containerwall.

In each instance the membrane 3a and 3b should be of relatively strongand tough, very flexible sheet material, which preferably is inelastic.Such material may be a fabric rendered air impermeable and waterproof,such as neoprene coated nylon fabric, or the membrane can be of nonwovenmaterial such as polyester resin sheet, available under the trade nameMylar. Such membrane materials are to be understood as merelyrepresentative. Despite the membrane installation, it is convenient toload the container from the top. In order to place the load beneath themembrane, therefore, it is necessary for the material received in thecontainer to pass through openings in the membrane. In FIGURES 1, 2, 3and 4 loading ports or filler openings 4 in the upper side of thecontainer are shown as having upwardly projecting flanges encirclingthem. The membrane 311 is then provided with elongated necks atlocations along i s l gth corresponding to the container loading ports4. The ends of these necks can be drawn upward through the containerloading ports, as shown in FIGURE 2, to maintain them in registry withthe loading ports during the loading operation, and folded reverselyover the loading port flanges in which position the necks 5 can beretained by an elastic or clamping band 6.

In order to maintain the membrane necks 5 open during the fillingoperation the membrane may be pressed into substantially contiguouscontact with the inner wall of the container by connecting a suctionsource to an opening 7 through the upper portion of the container wallin communication with the space between such wall and the membrane. Asair is sucked out of this connection the atmospheric pressure within thecontainer will press the membrane outward into engagement with thecontainer wall to form a liner, as shown in FIGURE 2. Since the upperportion of the membrane neck 5 is secured to the filler port 4 flange,the neck will droop in returnfolded condition within the container, asshown in FIG- URE 2.

With the liner 3a held in the position of FIGURES 1 and 2 material isloaded through the ports 4 into the car tank until it reaches a levelgenerally like that shown in FIGURE 2. The suction applied to opening 7can then be discontinued and fluid under pressure, in this particularcase preferably being air, can be supplied to the Opening 7 to press themembrane away from the tank wall. The membrane will be pressed againstthe material in the tank generally in the manner shown in FIGURE 3, soas to squeeze air from the spaces between the particles of the materialwhich air will escape through the ports 4. The material will thus becompacted and densified and thus reduced in volume. Suction can thenagain be applied to the connection 7 to draw the membrane back into theposition of FIGURE 2 to enable additional material to be fed into thetank through the ports 4.

When the filling operation has thus been completed the securing ring 6can be removed from the liner neck 5 to detach it from the loading portand such neck can be contracted or twisted closed, bound and pushed downthrough the loading port. Such port can then be covered by a suitablecap 8, as shown in FIGURE 4. Instead of the liner having necks 5 it maybe possible simply to provide a cover 9 for an opening in the membrane3a, as shown in FIGURE 5. Preferably this cover is attached to themembrane at one point so as to prevent it from sliding into the spacebetween the liner and the tank wall inadvertently. If such a closure isused a filling spout of suitable type should be provided to extend downthrough the tank loading port 4 into, or through, the liner opening.

Membrane 3b in the hopper car of FIGURE 6 and 7 is similar to themembrane 3a described above, and serves the same general function. Inthe case of a hopper car the loading ports 4 usually are staggered alongthe length of the car to enable the material to be supplied more readilyto opposite sides of the container. The liner necks 5 can be like thosedescribed above and when the loading has been completed they can bebound and pushed down into the upper portion of the car, as shown inFIGURE 6. In FIGURE 7 the liner openings are closed by covers 9, likethat shown in FIGURE 5.

Usually such discrete particle material, if it is of powdered orgranular character, is removed from a container by suction. FIGURE 4illustrates the procedure of removing such material from the tank car 1through the discharge port 10 by suction. During such operation eitherthe opening 7 or the loading port 4 is uncovered to vent the spacewithin the tank above the membrane 3a, which is in contact with theload. As the suction reduces the pressure within the material belowatmospheric, the at mospheric pressure above the membrane 311 pressessuch membrane against the upper portion of the material which followsthe material and presses it toward the outlet. During this operation theinside of the tanks upper portion is not subjected to differentialpressure because the pressure both inside and outside the container isatmospheric. Also, while the pressure in the lower portion of the tankis somewhat less than atmospheric the pressure on opposite sides of thematerial load is equal so that little or no tendency for the lowerportion of the container to be deformed occurs.

It will be appreciated that as material continues to be withdrawn fromthe tank the membrane 3a continues to follow the upper portion of thematerial downward until the tank has been emptied completely.Consequently, it is necessary for the membrane to be reversible from theupwardly extending position in FIGURE 2 to substantially a correspondingdownward position. For that reason the edge of the membrane must besecured circumferentially around the car tank, as shown in FIGURE 1,approximately in the horizontal central plane of the tank. If themembrane is to be of minimum extent the necks 5 should be long enough sothat they will not be stretched undesirably when the membrane is pressedagainst the upper portion of the load of material in the tank to compactit. While such compacting is not necessary it is highly desirable,particularly in transportation tanks, in order to increase the densityof the material and consequently increase the load of a given type ofmaterial which can be transported by a given tank vehicle. Also, bysubjecting the membrane to differential pressure in which the pressurebelow the membrane is lower, and above the membrane is higher, themembrane will act to force material toward and through the dischargeport, even though the material itself, such as chunky material, wouldnot be moved readily by suction.

In FIGURES 8, 9 and a storage tank 11 of a shape different from those ofFIGURES 1 and 6 is shown having in it a membrane 3c generally comparableto the membrane 3a of the tank in FIGURE 1, and the membrane 3b in thetank of FIGURE 6. In this instance the tank would be used primarily forplant storage purposes, rather than for transportation, and is shown tobe of cylindrical shape in which the axis of the tank extendsvertically. The liner 3c is of generally cylindrical shape, having oneend closed by a cirrcular end portion, except for a central port whichmay have a neck 5. The end of the membrane liner opposite the circularend wall is secured circumferentially to the wall of the tankapproximately midway between the upper and lower ends of the tank. Suchtank has a filling port 4 located centrally in its upper end and of adiameter corresponding generally to the diameter of the membrane neck 5.The lower end of the container has in it a discharge port 10 and suchcontainer bottom may be of hopper shape to facilitate complete emptyingof the tank.

The operation of the membrane installation, shown in FIGURES 8, 9 and10, is similar to that described in connection with FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and4. In FIGURE 8 the membrane 3c is shown as being pressed upward intosubstantially contiguous engagement with the inner side of the wall oftank 11 by atmospheric pressure within the tank as the opening 7 isconnected to a suction source. After the tank has been filled while suchsuction remains applied, the neck 5 can be removed from the filling port4 by taking off the retaining band 6 and the neck can be bound andpushed into the tank through the filling port, as shown in FIGURE 9.When material is being removed from the tank the opening 7 can be incommunication with the atmosphere and the differential pressure onopposite sides of the membrane can cause the membrane to press againstthe upper portion of the material in the tank and follow it down as itis discharged.

The container liner installation, shown in FIGURES 8, 9 and 10, is notsuited to compaction of the material at intervals because of the shortlength of the neck 5 extending from the liner to the tiller opening. Alonger neck could, of course, be used if desired, but even then it wouldbe difficult to obtain such compaction of discrete particle material inthe container if the container were less than half full of suchmaterial.

In FIGURE 11 a railway tank car having somewhat different features isshown. In this instance the tank has a plurality of loading ports 101located at spaced intervals along its top. The material is unloaded fromthe tank through discharge hoppers 102, of which there are preferablytwo, located in the central portion of the tank between the membraneattachment lines 14. It is necessary to provide a discharge opening ofadequate size through which to move the discrete particle materialquickly. If a larger opening is desired it is usually not practicalsimply to enlarge a single discharge opening because the size of thehopper cone cuts too far into the side wall of the tank. On the otherhand, if the tank is to be pressurized, it is not feasible simply toelongate the discharge opening lengthwise of the tank to expeditedischarge of the material and to assist in conveying it away from thetank, because such a slot would decrease the circumferential strength ofthe tank too greatly. It is possible, however, to obtain a sufficientlygreat area of discharge opening by providing two, or even three,circular openings spaced lengthwise of the tank. A vent opening 103 islocated in the top of the tank preferably at approximately the center.

In the particular tank shown in FIGURE 11 six loadloading ports areshown, two of which are located between the membrane attachment lines14, two more of such ports at the top of that portion of the tank whichcan be lined by one membrane 311 in one end portion of the tank, and twoother ports at the top of the other end portion of the tank which can beoccupied by another membrane. During unloading material can be dislodgedfrom the space between the hoppers by a bridge 104 preferably inclineddownward toward the two hoppers. Flow of material from such bridge intoeach of the hoppers can be expedited by supplying air under pressurethrough a connection 105 to the cavity 106 beneath the bridge andperforatinng the bridge so that air can escape through it to loosenparticulate material above the bridge, and/or the bridge can beconnected resiliently to the adjacent portions of the tank and provisionmade for vibrating the bridge to loosen material for flow from it intothe hoppers.

At the central portion of the tank between the membrane attachment lines14 a layer of insulation 106 can be provided extending overapproximately the upper quadrant of the tank. It is not necessary tohave a complete layer of insulation above the end portions of the tankcapable of being occupied by the membranes 3h if provision is made forspacing such membranes from the metal tank wall to provide air space bypressing the membranes down onto the load during storage. However,during slow loading under very low temperature conditions it may bedesirable to provide additional insulation in the form of ribs 107between the membranes proper and the tank wall proper to preventcondensation occurring inside the membranes, particularly if it shouldbe necessary to interrupt such loading operation for a substantialperiod of time.

When it is desired to load the tank a suction source is connected toeach of the pipes 108, which extends through the shell of the tank 100,to communicate with the space between the shell and a membrane 3h. Onlya very small suction is required for this purpose, such as one-half apound per square inch, or even less. At the same time the vent 103 isopen to supply air under atmospheric pressure to the interiors of themembranes. Such atmospheric pressure exerted on the membrane interiorswill press the membranes away from their attachment lines 14 into thetank wall-lining relationship shown in FIGURE 11. Alternatively, theconnections 108 can simply be vented and a source of air under a smallpressure can be connected to the pipe 103 to provide a dif- 7 ferentialin pressure on opposite sides of the membranes. This latter method ofproviding a pressure differential on opposite sides of the membranes is,however, less deslrable during the tank loading operation.

While the membranes are being held in the wall-lining positions shown inFIGURE 11, particulate material can be loaded into the space within themembranes through one or more of the loading ports 101. While FIGURE 11shows the membranes 3h installed in a tank of cylindrical cross sectionsuch membranes can be utilized in a tank of a different shape, such asthe tank 100' shown in FIGURES l2. and 13, which has a cross-section ofsubstantially rectangular shape. This tank is shown as serving as thebody of a railway boxcar. In this instance the membranes 3i are also ofsubstantially rectangular cross section, corresponding in shape to theinterior of the tank 100', so that when suction is applied to theconnections 108 and the vent 103 is open the membranes will be drawninto lining relationship to the interior of the tank, as shown inFIGURES l2 and 13.

In the tank 100 of rectangular cross section ribs 107' are providedwhich extend across the roof of the tank transversely of its length andpart way down the side walls. These ribs constitute means for spacingthe membrane away from the inner wall of the tank to avoid contiguouscontact with it, which would tend to promote condensation, as discussedin connection with the ribs 107 of FIGURE 11.

To expedite loading, a plurality of loading ports 101 are provided inthe top of the tank shown in FIGURES 12 and 13, and unloading of suchtank can be accomplished through two or more central discharge hoppers102'. The structure of the loading ports 101, their covers 109 and thedischarge hoppers 102' and related mechanism may be essentially the sameas the corersponding elements embodied in the tank constructionillustrated in FIGURE 11.

When material can flow out of the discharge ports the materialimmediately above the hoppers 102, or 102', will move down through themfirst. Slope sheets 110 in FIGURE 11, and 110' in FIGURES 12 and 13,will facilitate movement of material from the side Zones of thelongitudinally central compartment of the container down into thehoppers. Aeration of the bridge 104, or vibration of the bridge, willdeflect material between the hoppers into one or the other of them.

When the discrete particle material in the space between the attachmentmeans 14 has been discharged through the discharge hoppers and the facesof the bodies of material stored within the membranes have assumed astable angle of repose, or even before such a stable condition isreached, gas under pressure may be supplied to one of the connections108 to provide higher pressure between the corresponding membrane andthe container Wall than within such membrane. Gas thus supplied may havea pressure of as much as 50 pounds per square inch, for example, but thedifferential pressure across the membrane should not exceed 1 /2 poundsper square inch. to force the membrane to move into the central portionof the tank in turning inside out.

In order to expedite filling of the tank several loading ports 101 areillustrated in FIGURES 11 and 12. Two of such ports at the left of eachfigure and two of such parts at the right of each figure are shown asbeing in registry with the cup-shaped membranes, respectively, when theyare held in wall-lining position, as they are held during thetank-filling operation. It is therefore necessary to make provision formaterial to be loaded into the space within the membranes through suchloading ports to pass through openings in the membranes themselves inpositions corresponding to the locations of the loading ports. It isnecessary, however, to insure that the openings in the membranes areclosed and sealed when the loading ports are closed, so that a pressuredifferential can be created across each membrane for the purpose 8 ofmoving it into and holding it in Wall-lining position. Also it isdesirable to prevent material from being deposited inadvertently in thespace between the membrane and the tank wall. An expedient foraccomplishing this result is illustrated in FIGURES 14 to 23.

First, it is desirable to insure that the loading port covers 109 areheld positively either in the closed position, or in the open positionshown in FIGURES 14 to 16. In this way it is possible to ensure that themembranes are in proper wall-lining relationship before a hatch covercan be opened to admit material. Otherwise inadvertent opening of ahatch cover could allow material to be loaded into the zone between themembrane and the tank. Each cover is supported by an arm 137 which isapertured to receive a pivot rod 138 so that the cover can be swungabout the rod as an axis, and can be shifted vertically to a slightextent along the rod. A helical torsion spring 139 encircling the pivotrod 138 is connected to such rod and to the arm 137, so as to exert aforce urging the cover toward the closed position. Also, a helicalcompression spring 140 engaged between an arm 141 on which the pivot rod138 is mounted and the arm 137 attached to the cover exerts a forcetending to lift the cover upwardly into a position to clear the loadingport coaming 142.

On the side of the coaming 142 opposite the hingesupporting arm 141 ismounted a pneumatically operated latch 143. When suction is appliedsimultaneously to the tank connection 108 behind the membrane 3h, to theconnection 146 and to the connection 154, which are interconnected asshown in FIGURE 11, the membrane will be moved into wall-lining positionand the latch 143 will be released. When being closed, swinging of thecover toward registry with the coaming 142 will be stopped by engagementof a lug on the cover with the stop pin 157, shown in FIGURES 14, 15 and16.

At the location of each loading port 101 the membrane 3g will beprovided with a neck 158, which is of a length to extend upward throughthe coaming 142 to a location a substantial distance above the upperedge of the coaming when the membrane is in the wall-lining position ofFIGURES l1 and 14. Such neck 158 is made of limp material and when itsupper end is open such end can be folded down over the coaming 142, asshown in FIGURE 15, and, if desired, secured by a suitable band, oraffixed to the neck itself. As discussed, prior to commencement of theloading operation the membrane 3g will be held in wall-lining position,such as by applying suction through connections 108 to the space betweenthe membrane and the container wall and venting the interior of themembrane through connection 103. The suction at the loading port willnot be appreciably impaired by such port being open because a sealencircling such port is interposed between the membrane and thecontainer wall. Such seal is a rib which preferably is attached to theinner side of the container wall, but may be carried by the membrane.Such sealing rib can be of solid material or may be hollow as rib 159'shown in FIGURES 11 and 16.

When the membrane neck 158 has been pulled up through the coaming 142and folded over its upper edge, as shown in FIGURE 15, material can beloaded into the interior of the membrane 3g through the loading port,such as through a supply pipe spout 160, as shown in FIGURE 16. It isnot necessary for the slider 162, shown in FIGURE 18, of the zipper typeof separable fastener 161 to be fully open during thefilling operation,in every instance. When a supply pipe spout 160 is extended through theneck 158 and coaming 142, as shown in FIGURE 16, the neck can be turnedup around the spout and the slider can be moved toward it until the openportion of the neck embraces the spout closely. The neck 158 can besuspended in this position by attaching to a suitable hook on spout 160a chain which is connected to a ring of the slider 162.

When a loading operation has been completed, or is interrupted, it isnecessary to close the outer end of the neck 158 so that the entiremembrane will be sealed in order to enable a differential pressure to beexerted on it for manipulating it. It is desirable to be able to closethe end of the neck 158 quickly, easily and tightly and it is furtheressential that the neck not be allowed to drop down through the coamingand the loading port any great distance without being entirely closed.Mechanism capable of preventing such an occurrence is shown in FIG- URES14 and 18 to 23. The end of the neck 158 is closed by squeezing it flatand connecting the opposite edges by the separable fastener 161. It isnecessary that this separable fastener be of the type which will make afluidtight joint when the fastener is closed.

In the form of membrane neck 158, shown in FIG- URE 17, its end whenclosed by the separable fastener 161 is of hemispherical shape and suchseparable fastener being flexible preferably follows the arc of thegreat circle which lies in a diametrical plane of the neck end. Theportions of the hemispherical neck end at opposite sides of theseparable fastener are formed by gores 158'. The edges of such 'goresmay be formed by great circles and taper oppositely from their centralportions to apexes at opposite ends of the separable fastener 161.

It is necessary that the zipper type of separable fastener 161 be onewhich will make a fluidtight joint when the fastener is closed. Lockmechanism is provided to engage the slider 162 when the fastener isclosed so that the slider must be fully closed and cannot be openedinadvertently when the lock mechanism is engaged with the slider. Byproviding a key 163 for such lock mechanism which is carried by the endof a chain 164 anchored at the exterior of the loading port 101, it isimpossible to drop the neck 158 through the loading port in openedcondition without having the chain 164 connected to such neck by whichit can be retrieved easily back through the loading port, and which willprevent inadvertent closure of the hatch cover unless the membrane issealed and the key and chain withdrawn out of the hatch coaming.

The details of the slider-locking mechanism 165 carried by one side ofneck 158 are shown in FIGURES 18 to 23. In one side of the lockingmechanism is a bore 166 into which the stern 167 of the slider 162 canbe inserted, as indicated by the arrow in FIGURE 23, into the positionshown in FIGURE 20. Insertion of such stem will force to the left, fromthe position of FIG- URE 23 to that of FIGURE 20, a spring-pressedplunger 168 which also slides in the bore 166. Such plunger is urgedtoward the right, in FIGURES 20 and 23, by a compression spring 169 andits movement to the right is limited by a flange 170 on its end remotefrom the opening of bore 166.

When the stem 167 has been pushed fully into the bore 166 to theposition shown in FIGURE 20, the shallow annular groove 171 is inregistry with a bore 172 in the lock mechanism extending transversely ofthe bore 166 and offset slightly from such bore. The stem 173 of the key163 may be pushed in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIGURES l9and 21 into the bore 172 until the key reaches the position shown inFIGURE 23. At that time its shallow annular groove 174 will be inregistry with the bore 166. When the key stem is not inserted in bore172 plunger 175 is projected into such bore by the compression spring176 into the limiting position shown in FIGURE 19, in which the flange177 on the end of the plunger 175 is engaged with the shoulder in bore172 spaced from the opening of such bore.

In general, the function of the locking mechanism is to insure thateither the key 163 or the slider 162 will be held in the lockingmechanism. When the key is held in the locking mechanism, as shown inFIGURE 18, the neck can be opened by withdrawing the slider 162 to theright, as seen in FIGURES l8 and 23, but the neck can move downwardthrough the loading port 101 only as far as permitted by the length ofchain 164 attached to the key 163. Under these circumstances the keycannot be withdrawn from the bore 172 because the plunger 168 inintersecting bore 166 will be engaged in the shallow groove 174 of thekey, in the position of FIGURE 23, to prevent it from being withdrawn.The plunger 168 is, of course, held in this key-retaining position bythe compression spring 169.

When it is desired to close the opening in the neck 158 and the cover109, slider 162 is moved toward the locking mechanism to close the neckopening and its stern 167 is moved into the bore 166 from the positionof FIGURE 23 to that of FIGURE 20. By such movement the plunger 168 isforced to the left to the position of FIGURE 20, so that the shallowgroove 171 of the slider stem 167 is in registry with the bore 172. Thekey 163 can then be withdrawn from such bore and spring 176 will urgeplunger 175 to follow the stem until it reaches the position shown inFIGURE 19. In that position the plunger will be lodged in the shallowgroove 171 of the slider stem 167 so that it cannot be withdrawn and theslider will thus be held in fully closed position. The key 163 and itschain 164 can then be withdrawn from the loading port, the closed neck158 can be dropped down through the loading port into a position withinthe container and the cover 109 can be moved into closed position.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for holding material comprising a container having aloading port in the upper portion thereof and a discharge port in thelower portion thereof, a membrane sheet disposed between such loadingport and such discharge port, having an opening therethrough for passageof material from the loading port side of the membrane sheet to thedischarge port side of the membrane sheet and said membrane sheet havingan edge portion encircling such opening, the perimeter of said membranesheet edge portion being of greater length than the perimeter of suchmembrane sheet opening, means securing and sealing said membrane sheetedge portion to the wall of said container at a location between suchloading port and such discharge port, releasable connecting means forconnecting such membrane sheet opening to such loading port for passageof material therethrough to the discharge port side of said membranesheet and releasable for freeing the portion of said membrane sheethaving such opening to follow material moving toward such dischargeport, and closure means for closing such membrane sheet opening whensaid releasable connecting means are released.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1, and a cap constituting the closuremeans.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1, in which the closure means includesa zipper type of fluid-tight separable fastener.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 1, locking means for the closuremeans, and operating means for said locking means secured in saidlocking means when the closure means is open.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 4, and means connected to theoperating means and anchored to the container externally of the loadingport to limit downward movement of the membrane sheet portion having theopening when the closure means is open.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 3, in which the separable fastenerincludes a slider movable to close the separable fastener, said sliderhaving a stem projecting therefrom, locking means carried by themembrane sheet adjacent to the opening therein and having a first boreadapted to receive said stern therein and a second bore crossing andpartially intersecting said first bore, a plunger reciprocable in saidsecond bore and engageable with said slider stem, and key meansinsertable in said second bore and operable to reciprocate said plungerout of position locking said slider stern.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 6, and a plunger reciprocable in thefirst bore and engageable with the key means for locking it in thesecond bore when the slider stem is withdrawn from the first bore.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 1, in which the releasable connectingmeans includes a neck extendable upward from the membrane sheet opening,and the closure means including a zipper type of fluid-tight separablefastener.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 1, in which the releasable connectingmeans includes a neck extendable upward from the membrane sheet openingand having an end of substantially hemispherical shape, the closuremeans being disposed substantially along a great circle of the neck end.

10. The apparatus defined in claim 1, in which the releasable connectingmeans includes a neck extendable upward from the membrane sheet openingthrough the loading port.

11. The apparatus defined in claim 1, and sealing means spaced from andencircling the loading port, spaced from and encircling the membranesheet opening and engageable between the membrane sheet opening and theinterior wall of the container for effecting a seal around the loadingport and the membrane sheet opening to seal the space between thecontainer wall and the membrane sheet for preventing communication ofsuch space with the loading port.

12. The apparatus defined in claim 11, in which the sealing meansincludes a sealing rib encircling the loading port and the membranesheet opennig.

13. The apparatus defined in claim 12, in which the sealing rib ismounted on the container, is hollow and is inflatable.

14. The apparatus defined in claim 1, in which the container is ofsubstantially cylindrical shape and the discharge port is centered inthe lower portion of the container.

15. The apparatus defined in claim 1, in which the container is ofelongated shape with its length disposed generally horizontally.

16. The apparatus defined in claim 1, in which the container is disposedwith its axis substantially vertical and the entire peripheral edgeportion of the membrane sheet is secured to the wall of the containersubstantially in a horizontal plane.

17. The apparatus defined in claim 1, the edge portion of the membranesheet being sealed to the inner side of the container Wall substantiallymidway between the top and the bottom of the container.

18. The apparatus defined in claim 1, the closure means being disposedsubstantially coplanar with the portion of the membrane sheet encirclingthe opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,720,375 10/1955 Carter 141682,815,887 12/1957 Ford et al. 222-405 2,831,610 4/1958 Dennie 222-3,096,912 7/1963 Rivette 222105 3,058,623 10/1962 Hawk et al. 2221053,070,810 1/1963 Jones 222183 3,105,617 10/1963 Felldin 222-1853,206,076 9/1965 Brackett 222105 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,033,076 7/1953France.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

H. S. LANE, Assistant Examiner.

US Cl. X.R. 222l76

